The rise of remote working and growing reliance on mobile phones as a business tool has made enterprise mobility management (EMM) a key component of modern business operations.
EMM solutions provide organizations with the tools to manage, secure and optimize the devices used across their workforce.
But while mobile devices offer flexibility and efficiency, they can also pose significant security challenges. When employees can work from anywhere, how can organizations protect their data and prevent unauthorized access in the event of device loss or theft?
What are Enterprise Mobility Management Solutions?
Enterprise Mobility Management is a critical solution for businesses operating in the mobile-first world. As employees increasingly rely on mobile devices for work, EMM provides the tools and strategies to manage, secure, and optimize these devices.
EMM provides a centralized platform for managing mobile devices, allowing businesses to remotely configure, and update off-site devices. This ensures that all devices align with company standards and policy. This can reduce the risk of an attacker gaining unauthorized access and help to prevent data breaches.
EMM also enables businesses to distribute, manage, and secure applications on corporate devices. This includes the ability to deploy and update apps, control access, and enforce usage policies. By managing applications centrally, organizations can ensure that employees have the necessary tools to perform their jobs efficiently and securely.
The solutions help to incorporate robust data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information stored on mobile devices. This includes encryption, containerization, and remote wipe capabilities. The encryption ensures that data is effectively scrambled, making it unreadable to unauthorized individuals. Containerization isolates corporate data from personal data on the device and remote wipe allows businesses to delete all data on a device if it is lost or stolen, again to minimize the risk of data breaches.
By utilizing the range of security features offered by EMMs to protect mobile devices and the data they contain, including malware protection, phishing prevention, and intrusion detection. By implementing strong security measures, businesses can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect their sensitive information.
EMM can also help businesses to optimize their expenses. By managing devices centrally and enforcing their usage policies, organizations can reduce the number of unnecessary devices as well as data plans and app purchases. EMM tools can help businesses recover lost or stolen devices helping to eliminate the cost of replacing them where possible.
The solutions can also help with employee compliance to industry regulations and company policies. By enforcing standards for device usage, application management, and data protection, EMM ensures that businesses and employees meet regulatory standards. This can be particularly important for industries with high need for data protection such as healthcare, finance, and government, which are subject to strict regulations.
How to Choose An Enterprise Mobility Management Solution
When choosing an EMM solution, it's important to consider several factors. The most important is to ensure that the solution is compatible with the devices and operating systems used by your employees.
Next, evaluate the security features offered by the EMM solution, including data protection, threat detection, and compliance capabilities. From here, business managers can assess the application management features, such as app distribution, management, and security.
Consider how well the EMM solution integrates with your existing IT infrastructure and third-party tool and be sure that the solution can scale to accommodate your organization's growth and increasing number of devices.
It is also important to evaluate the user experience, including ease of use and support and base your decision on the tech literacy of your employee base.
You must also consider the cost of the EMM solution, including licensing fees, deployment costs, and ongoing support.
By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose an EMM solution that meets your organization's specific needs and helps you manage and secure your mobile devices effectively.
Cloud-Based vs. On-Premises EMM
Deciding between a cloud based or on-premises deployment is a critical business decision that depends on your organization's needs and priorities.
Cloud-based EMM offers scalability, reduced infrastructure costs, faster deployment, and regular updates. However, it also requires trust in the cloud provider's security measures, relies on a stable internet connection, and can lead to vendor lock-in.
On-premises EMM provides greater control over data and infrastructure, customization, and offline access. However, it can be more expensive, complex to manage, and challenging to scale.
The Best Enterprise Mobility Management Solutions
Enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions give companies the option to control, update, and even wipe devices from a distance.
So, which EMM tools are leading the way today?
Jamf Pro
The Jamf Pro mobile security solution is designed specifically for Apple devices. This technology provides employees and students alike with the tools they need to be more efficient, without risking security. Business leaders can use Jamf Pro to automate various EMM capabilities, all the way from device enrolment and deployment, to the configuration of use policies.
The Jamf Pro system can collect important information about how mobile devices are used, track potential problems with Apple devices, and more. What’s more, it comes with access to many of the leading encryption options on the market today.
Cisco Meraki
Cisco is one of the best-known communication companies in the world. Thus, it makes sense that they would have their own tool available for managing mobile devices. The Cisco Meraki technology makes it quick and simple for businesses to manage mobile devices and PCs from a centralised dashboard.
With Meraki, you can enforce your own device security policies, deploy software updates, and even perform live troubleshooting on devices in real time. The Systems Manager technology also helps you to monitor the health of your business devices too.
IBM MaaS360
IBM’s approach to EMM comes with an artificial intelligence solution built-in, thanks to IBM Watson. In particular, the MaaS360 technology is one of the few solutions in the industry that comes with an intuitive machine learning-enhanced portal that helps you track down exactly how people are using mobile devices in your business.
Furthermore, IBM's MaaS360 enables you to manage a range of OS systems from a single console, allowing IT teams to manage endpoints securely and efficiently. Additionally, there’s also support for IoT devices that use APIs, too, so you can secure everything in one platform.
MobileIron
MobileIron is a current market leader in the unified endpoint management environment. Not only was it mentioned in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, but it’s also recommended by the Forrester Wave report too. The MobileIron EMM tool is a secure way to handle a variety of mobile devices, from mobile kiosks to point of sale systems and smartphones.
Within the easy-to-use interface, IT departments can manage an entire fleet of devices remotely. There’s also the option to enforce settings that prevent people from jailbreaking their phones and conducting other noncompliant activities.
VMware Workspace ONE UEM
Designed by leaders in the virtualisation industry, VMware Workspace ONE UEM is a device lifecycle management software that helps IT people manage, configure, and support mobile devices both remotely and in-house. This MDM service reduces configuration times and improves employee onboarding with new technology too.
To help protect corporate information, AirWatch offers a host of data loss prevention policies and device security features, like state-of-the-art encryption. Other features include controlling of geofencing policies and app sharing permissions.
Sophos Mobile
Sophos doesn’t just offer an EMM tool; it provides companies with an entire platform for unified endpoint management. With a strong presence in the market already thanks to a range of alternative security tools, Sophos is very well respected for it’s contributions to mobile device protection.
The Sophos Mobile system comes with access to a complete package of MDM capabilities. These include PIN enforcement, remote wiping tools, and options to change various policies to enhance security.
SOTI MobiControl
SOTI MobiControl is one of the better-known EMM tools available today, capable of securing, remotely supporting, and managing a host of products from over 150 device manufacturers. In particular, this device management tool makes it easier for businesses to control and manage enterprise devices throughout their lifecycle.
SOTI MobiControl is a robust and comprehensive piece of security software. With a single interface for all of your devices, it's easy to use too. It also allows you to update business security by implementing two-factor and biometric authentication measures.
Citrix Endpoint Management
Citrix Endpoint Management aims to give enterprises complete control of their endpoints through a unified and secure central solution. With Citrix, leaders can quickly and easily manage mobile devices from a distance, as well as traditional laptops, desktops, and IoT.
This software aims to provide organisations with a unified endpoint management service that gives them a handle on not just their BYOD strategy, but their entire evolving workforce. The solution supports all major mobile devices and operating systems.
SAP HANA Cloud Platform
SAP HANA Cloud Platform offers a complete enterprise-grade approach to mobility management in the cloud. With it, business owners and IT teams can control and protect mobile devices and apps from a distance. The comprehensive platform includes tools for mobile device management, BYOD security, and even compliance support with applications too.
SAP allows businesses to secure their organisation’s entire mobile stack from a single environment, with detailed app-level security policies. There’s also the option to remote wipe products, deliver upgrades and fixes, and prevent data errors without having access to a specific phone or device.
Trend Micro Mobile Security
Trend Micro Mobile Security is a state-of-the-art EMM tool that allows you to keep your business safe and secure, no matter which devices you’re using. The system works with Windows, Apple, and Android devices, protected them against a variety of online threats. It also helps you track potential identity theft or phishing scams.
Businesses can use this offering to encrypt passwords and tune up system performance with various enhancement tools. There’s also privacy protection specifically for social media too.
